Linked Life Data

12180830

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/12180830

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2-4
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-8-15
pubmed:abstractText
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, are effective lipid lowering agents, extensively used in medical practice. Statins have never been shown to be involved in the immune response, although few clinical reports have suggested a better outcome of cardiac transplantation in patients under pravastatin therapy. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules are directly involved in the activation of T lymphocytes and in the control of the immune response. Whereas only a limited number of specialized cell types express MHC-II constitutively, numerous other cells become MHC-II positive upon induction by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). We and others recently demonstrated that statins act as direct inhibitors of induction of MHC-II expression by IFN-gamma and thus as repressors of MHC-II-mediated T cell activation. This effect was observed in several cell types, including primary human endothelial cells and macrophages. Interestingly, this inhibition is specific for inducible MHC-II expression and does not concern either constitutive expression of MHC-II or expression of MHC-I. In repressing induction of MHC-II, and subsequent T lymphocyte activation, statins therefore behave as a novel type of immunomodulator. This unexpected effect provides a scientific rationale for suggesting the use of statins as novel immunosuppressors, not only in organ transplantation but in numerous other pathologies as well.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0966-3274
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
9
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
197-200
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Statins as immunomodulators.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine, University Hospital Geneva, Foundation for Medical Research, Switzerland. machf@cmu.unige.ch
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review